Prez Says for July 2025

KEGS newsletter

Volume 29, Issue 7

Prez Says for July 2025

Welcome to July, the month of the Fourth of July Holiday, warmer weather, and the Bellevue Arts Fair.  Don’t forget your American flag.  Will you be watching fireworks outside or on television?

On July 1st, we will have our Tech Corner and General Meeting via Zoom only.   Our General Meeting program will be "The Dark Web" presented by Jeff Crume, et al.  Think the dark web is only for hackers, hitmen, and illegal deals? Think again. Learn about the biggest myths about the dark web and explore what really happens beneath the surface of the internet. From hidden communities to misunderstood tools like Tor, learn the truth behind the fear-mongering headlines.

Do you have questions about one of your computer devices or software? Join us via Zoom at 6:00 PM on July1st for our Technology Corner led by Andy Peck.  Topics for the July Tech Corner are:  Ai Platforms, Ancient Computers, Quantum Radar, Photo Location Search, Recuva, Misc.

If you want to learn more about Linux, visit Steve Herber at our Linux Special Interest Group hybrid meeting (in-person and Zoom combined) starting at 6:30 PM on July 8th.  Bring your Linux laptop to the Linux SIG.   The Linux Group also has a build-your-own server project Zoom meeting at 7:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of July.

The Digital Imaging SIG will meet via Zoom on July 22nd.  This month’s theme is the Fourth of July (fireworks, parades, backyard celebrations, etc).  Join Sally Ann for an interesting meeting.

To keep up with technology, visit https://www.techforsenior.com  to learn about their Monday morning meetings (9:00 AM PT), their Newsletter, and their Facebook page.

Be sure to download all security updates on all of your devices.

Please consider joining us via Zoom for our July meeting.

KEGS is late in sending out membership cards; we hope to catch up soon.  Thanks for your patience.

To prepare for an Auction next year, we need a covered space to sort and store donated items.  Do you have a garage space we could use for one day only on the first Saturday of June, 2026?

We welcome visitors!  Please encourage your friends to join KEGS, the Linux SIG, or the Digital imaging SIG.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

gerald smith sig block

Prez Says for August 2024

KEGS newsletter

Volume 28, Issue 8

Prez Says for August 2024

Welcome to August, the month of Seafair, Hydroplanes, and the Blue Angels, and the continuation of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.   The weather forecast for the dog days of August shows mostly highs of 80s and some 90s.  I hope you and your family enjoy the special celebrations this month.

On August 6th, we will have our Tech Corner and General Meeting in person at the North Bellevue Community Center and via Zoom. Our General Meeting program will be "Artificial Intelligence and Scams" presented by Monica Tate, California Assistant Attorney General, Major Frauds Division.   Monica will discuss the likely impact of artificial intelligence on familiar scams. In addition, she will be discussing the widespread crypto investment scams that are currently proliferating and how to avoid them.   

Do you have questions about one of your computer devices or software? Join Leader Andy Peck at 6:00 PM on August 6th for our Technology Corner Zoom meeting.  August’s topics include Crowdstrike, Floppies, QR Scams, SSA Login, Nat’l Academies, etc., and Q&A.

If you want to learn more about Linux, visit Steve Herber at our Linux Special Interest Group hybrid meeting (in-person and Zoom combined) starting at 6:30 PM on August 13th.  The Linux Group also has a build-your-own server project Zoom meeting at 7:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of August.

You are invited to attend the Digital Imaging Special Interest Group Meeting via Zoom with Sally Ann at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evening, August 27th.  August’s topic is Summer Fun.

To keep up with technology, visit https://www.techforsenior.com  to learn about their Monday morning meetings (9:00 AM PT), their Newsletter, and their Facebook page.

Be sure to download all security updates on all of your devices.

Now that we have daylight longer, please consider joining us at the North Bellevue Community Center for our August meetings.  You will be able to drive to and from the meetings in daylight. 

We welcome visitors!  I look forward to seeing you soon.

gerald smith sig block

Prez Says for October 2024

KEGS newsletter

Volume 28, Issue 10

Prez Says for October 2024

Welcome to October, the month of ghosts, goblins, pumpkins, Halloween candy, and more football and more rain.  Are you planning something special for Halloween? 

On October 1st, we will have our Tech Corner and General Meeting in person at the North Bellevue Community Center and via Zoom. Our General Meeting program will be "How to Navigate the Digital Jungle" presented by Bob Gostischa.  

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative to educate individuals and organizations about online safety and security. As the digital world expands, so do the threats lurking online.

Bob Gostischa is a cybersecurity expert who can help you navigate the digital jungle and protect yourself from common cyber threats. Join us as we explore topics like:

Phishing attacks – Malware – Ransomware –
Spyware – Adware – DDoS attacks and more

Do you have questions about one of your computer devices or software? Join us in-person or via Zoom at 6:00 PM on October 1st for our Technology Corner.

If you want to learn more about Linux, visit Steve Herber at our Linux Special Interest Group hybrid meeting (in-person and Zoom combined) starting at 6:30 PM on October 8th.  Bring your Linux laptop to the Linux SIG.   The Linux Group also has a build-your-own server project Zoom meeting at 7:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of October.

You are invited to attend the Digital Imaging Special Interest Group Meeting via Zoom with Sally Ann at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evening, October 22nd.  October’s topic is National Parks.

To keep up with technology, visit https://www.techforsenior.com to learn about their Monday morning meetings (9:00 AM PT), their Newsletter, and their Facebook page.

Be sure to download all security updates on all of your devices.

Please consider joining us at the North Bellevue Community Center for our October meetings. 

We still need a space to store and sort items for our Auction; a garage that holds cars that can be moved out for one half day in June would be great.

We welcome visitors!  Please encourage your friends to join KEGS, the Linux SIG, or the Digital imaging SIG.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

gerald smith sig block

Prez Says for September 2024

KEGS newsletter

Volume 28, Issue 9

Prez Says for September 2024

Welcome to September, the month of Labor Day, football, back to school, and technology sales. The weather is transitioning to more pleasant days.  Do you plan to update any of your technology devices this month? 

On September 3rd, we will have our Tech Corner and General Meeting in person at the North Bellevue Community Center and via Zoom. Our General Meeting program will be "Extending the Life of Your Smartphone Battery" presented by John Krout.   Does your battery warm up while being charged?  Heat is the mortal enemy of your battery.  Learn how to avoid heating, set your phone to avoid charging into the danger zone, and use apps to prompt you when to start charging.

Do you have questions about one of your computer devices or software? Join us in-person or via Zoom at 6:00 PM on September 3rd for our Technology Corner.

If you want to learn more about Linux, visit Steve Herber at our Linux Special Interest Group hybrid meeting (in-person and Zoom combined) starting at 6:30 PM on September 10th.  The Linux Group also has a build-your-own server project Zoom meeting at 7:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of September.

You are invited to attend the Digital Imaging Special Interest Group Meeting via Zoom with Sally Ann at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evening, September 24th.  September’s topic is Lakes or Rivers.

To keep up with technology, visit https://www.techforsenior.com to learn about their Monday morning meetings (9:00 AM PT), their Newsletter, and their Facebook page.

Be sure to download all security updates on all of your devices.

Please consider joining us at the North Bellevue Community Center for our September meetings.  Would you be willing to serve on the Board of Directors?

We need a space to store and sort items for our Auction; a garage that holds cars that can be moved out for one half day in June would be great.

We welcome visitors!  Please encourage your friends to join KEGS, the Linux SIG, or the Digital imaging SIG.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

gerald smith sig block

Prez Says for November 2024

KEGS newsletter

Volume 28, Issue 11

Prez Says for November 2024

Welcome to November, the month of Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday.  Please remind your adult children and grandchildren to vote.  I hope you and your family have an enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday.

On November 5th, we will have our Tech Corner and General Meeting in person at the North Bellevue Community Center and via Zoom. Our General Meeting program will be "Is Your Car Spying on You? "  presented by Dale Harrington.    A car (and its app, if you installed one on your phone) can collect all sorts of data in the background without you realizing it. This, in turn, may be shared for various purposes, including advertising and risk assessment for insurance companies. The data collection list is long and depends on the car's make, model, and trim. But if you look through any car maker's privacy policy, you'll see some trends. Dale will talk about what types of data may be shared with, among others, dealers, repair companies, emergency services, advertising, and insurance companies. 

Do you have questions about one of your computer devices or software? Join us in-person or via Zoom at 6:00 PM on November 5th for our Technology Corner led by Andy Peck.  November’s topics are AI Hiring, Voice Banking, Spinrite 6.1, Meta Smart Glasses, and Minimal Phone.  

If you want to learn more about Linux, visit Steve Herber at our Linux Special Interest Group hybrid meeting (in-person and Zoom combined) starting at 6:30 PM on November 12th.  Bring your Linux laptop to the Linux SIG.   The Linux Group also has a build-your-own server project Zoom meeting at 7:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of October.

You are invited to attend the Digital Imaging Special Interest Group Meeting via Zoom with Sally Ann at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evening, November 26th.  November’s topic is Spooky Stuff and Halloween,.

To keep up with technology, visit https://www.techforsenior.com to learn about their Monday morning meetings (9:00 AM PT), their Newsletter, and their Facebook page.

Be sure to download all security updates on all of your devices.

Please consider joining us at the North Bellevue Community Center for our November meetings.

I will be doing some traveling in November and December, thus I may miss some in-person KEGS meetings. 

We still need a space to store and sort items for our Auction; a garage that holds cars that can be moved out for one half day in June would be great.

We welcome visitors!  Please encourage your friends to join KEGS, the Linux SIG, or the Digital imaging SIG.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

gerald smith sig block

KEGS Officers, Board Members & Administrators

The Komputer Enthusiasts of Greater Seattle (KEGS) ~ PO Box 171 ~ Bellevue, WA 98009-0171 ~ info@kegs.org


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